Page 100 of Point Proven
Oren messed with his fingers, avoiding eye contact as he spoke. “I was six the first time Dad brought me to Stefan’s with Mom. At the time, I didn’t know what it was, and I thought I got to play while Mom did work…things. There were always so many kids, but I was instantly drawn to this little girl. Shewas three, and I felt like a big protector to her. Her name was Yeseniya, and I had no idea she was my half-sister, that my father had been unfaithful to my mother for many years prior.
“We often played in the catacombs of the compound, but the colored rooms were always off-limits. I didn’t know why until… until one day I didn’t get to play with her and instead… Instead,Iwas played with by… by my father and Stefan. Mom was forced to watch to teach her where her place was, because she defied Dad. And after that I barely saw Yeseniya, because I was too busy being tossed around until the age of thirteen when… when mom got sick.”
“Oren…” I breathed, tears welling at his confession, but he simply shook his head.
“I-I can do this…” Inhaling on a shuddered breath, he reached for Thorne’s hand, who grabbed it without hesitation. “Things shifted as Dad spent more time at the compound, leaving Mom and me alone, but I snooped. I learned through his files that Yeseniya was my sister, and he’d cheated on Mom with Sasika Evania, the mastermind behind all the human trafficking hubs, but that’s not all. She controls banks, cartels, weaponry, you fucking name it, she’s got her hand in it.
“When I found out, I begged Dad to take me back and said it was because I missed Stefan. I sacrificed… sacrificed myself tohimto tell Yeseniya she was my sister and to try to get her out. It didn’t work, obviously, as my dad found out, and that was the last time I talked to her in person. We’ve always communicated via letters or texts if able, but it’s been hard recently. With Dad’s knowledge that I loved Yeseniya, he used her against me constantly. It was his hand against my back that made me not tell anyone about what I’d gone through.
“It washimwho held a knife to my throat; otherwise, my sister would have been killed. The only reason he didn’t shove me into that fucking military compound earlier was that I tookcare of Mom when he didn’t want to. But as soon as she died, I knew I had to run. So I did. I fucking ran andran, but he found me, plopping me back under his control. While I’m so… so grateful because it brought me Thorne and all of you, heusedme during my time.”
“Used you?” Matt asked, his timbre wavering slightly.
Oren glanced at the ceiling and blinked rapidly. “Our mission… wasn’t the only one. I helped him transport not only weapons, butkidsto those compounds?—”
Crutches clattered, and Liam pushed himself from where he sat. “I’m sorry… I-I… I can’t…”
I stood, chair knocking back against the wall. “Give us a bit, Oren.”
Wrapping my arm underneath Liam’s shoulders, I helped him hobble out from the kitchen to the patio door. This had been too much, and he needed the reprieve. Even if he tried to say it, he wasn’t broken in my eyes, and I would prove that to him—prove he was safe.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
LIAM
Stepping out onto the patio, the gentle breeze tousled my hair but did nothing to expel my nausea. Hands trembling, I struggled to hold on to my crutches, my clammy palms evidence of my internal turmoil.
I inhaled shakily, struggling to fight off the emotional wave that threatened to swallow me whole. Mind slipping, dissociation took over as Oren’s admittance replayed in the back of my mind, memories of my past overlapping with his words.
“Liam?”
Blinking once, I turned to look at Simon. “Hm?”
He took a step forward and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me tightly against his chest. “It’s okay if you’re not okay. There’s nothing you have to hide from me.”
The lump in my throat grew as I nuzzled into his neck, his pepper and cardamom scent swallowing me whole. Tears uncontrollably slipped, and a fractured sob followed. “I-I’m sorry… I’m trying…”
“Shhh, you’re doing amazing.”
“But I’m… I’m not…” Whimpering, I shook my head. “I-I’m too fucking broken, and I’m out here… making this shit about me andmytrauma when Oren?—”
Simon stroked my back, hand shifting to cradle the back of my head. “You arehurting, sunshine. You are not making this about you because you went through the same things he did. You are not expected to sit there and listen. And you sure as hell are not expected to plaster a smile on your face to hide your emotions. Liam, I know you feel broken, but I will mend you back one conversation, one kiss, one hug at a time.”
“I-I’m taking away from Oren by not being there… I can’t even fucking listen…” Tears rolled down my cheeks as I clung to him, a tremor rolling through me. “I can’t be there… for… for ourfriend…”
“Yes, you can, and you have. You’re there for him in the capacity you can be, and we can always go back in when you’re ready. There’s no rush, because Oren understands. We all do. I know it’s difficult. I know you feel bad because that’s how you are. You care about Oren a lot.”
“But I’mnot,Simon.” Gasping for air, I struggled to ground myself amidst my building panic. “I can’t be there… I can’t be there for him. I’mfailing.”
Simon pulled back slightly, pressing two fingers under my chin to lift my gaze to his. “You are not failing; you are human. You’ve endured more?—”
“No, I haven’t! I am no more important than Oren!” I screamed, shoving him away from me. Tripping over my own feet, a spike of pain ripped through me as I caught myself on my bad leg. “Ah,shit!”
“Liam!” Immediately bouncing back as if I hadn’t pushed him, Simon’s arm cradled me, lifting my injured leg from its weight. “Sunshine, don’t do that!”
The screen door slapped open, Oren’s voice flooding out. “Liam, are you okay? We heard you?—”
“Oren, not right now,” Simon shouted. “Go inside. He’s alright, just give us some space.”
